The Concubine's Survival Manual

Chapter 24

Entering November, the military ration turmoil that has entangled Suzhou for nearly half a year seems to have finally subsided gradually.

It took only half a year for Liu Zheng, the governor of Zhejiang Province, to fall from power in Beijing, and the two or three months of walking on the road were discarded. In fact, it was equivalent to just arriving in the capital, and the emperor began to arrange and deal with the local officials.All the officials in Jiangnan gradually came to their senses, and only then did they understand the greatness of the Eldest Master: In this dispute, he once again took the position that the emperor wanted him to be in from the very beginning.

Therefore, none of the three provinces in the south of the Yangtze River dared to fight against the military rations. This year's harvest was not bad at all.

The elder did not take time off because of this.

He is the governor of the three provinces, and he has a lot of affairs. Now he has to personally supervise the affairs of Zhejiang Province. He is even more busy without touching the ground. .

The eldest wife has no time to go anywhere.

Although the award from the Zuozhu Kingdom that the Grand Master received was glorious, it didn't have many substantial benefits.

It just proved his status in the emperor's heart.

The ensuing troubles can be described as endless...

The First Prince didn't seem to have any resentment towards the Elder Master because of Liu Zheng's downfall, and the few officials in the frontiers under his hand still warmly expressed their affection to the Elder Master as always.

However, the prince wanted to seize this opportunity to draw the elder to his side, and even frequently used the relationship between the Xu family and the Qin family to attract the elder.

Both the Grand Master and the Grand Wife are having headaches.

After all, the Qin family and the Xu family are relatives, so it's not easy to tear their faces apart.

But it seems that the Elder Master does not intend to take sides in the battle for the heir apparent... how to skillfully reject both parties without offending both parties to death has become the most frequently discussed topic between the Elder Master and the Eldest Wife recently topic.

"Your grandfather and third aunt's family are also helpless." The eldest wife can't help pouring bitterness on Qin Niangzi, "but who can think about the helplessness of our family? If there is any intention of getting close to someone, the emperor may change his face and explode!"

Qin Niangzi had no choice but to laugh along with her.

However, in the last ten days of November, the eldest wife still put the two relatives aside and began to concentrate on the marriage between the Zhang family and the Yang family.

Although the two families are close, they don't have a positional relationship with the Yang family like the Li family and the Wang family. They can first take the Geng Tie from the young master of the Zhang family to make the woman match her horoscope.

All the answers were standard articles, Mr. Li and Mrs. Li acted as great matchmakers, and they were waiting for the Zhang family to prepare six-color gifts, so they came to accept the gifts.

The third lady became more and more ashamed and refused to give Qilixiang, and the fourth aunt also stayed behind closed doors, rarely showing her face in Baifang Garden, but the eldest lady was particularly energetic in handling these matters.

Even Wu Niangzi's clamor to go to Hanshan Temple to worship Buddha and offer incense was rarely vetoed by her, "The whole family is busy with your third sister's marriage, and going to offer incense at this time, isn't it noisy enough?"

The fifth lady came to the west courtyard to talk to the seventh lady in dismay.

Seventh Lady accompanied Fifth Lady in a good voice and said that the kittens born by Banlanhu were gradually growing up, the larks under her eaves were singing more and more crisply, and Fifth Lady's previous round of Shuanglu was wonderful...

But the five ladies all returned indifferently, responding a few times without saying a word, just focusing on ecstasy.

How could Seven Lady not know what was on her mind?
After all, it was my daughter's house, and she was always under heavy restraint in Baifangyuan.

Not to mention things outside.

How much does Fifth Lady know?

It's not as good as Qi Niangzi, there is Uncle Zhou and Feng's family who have been in contact with each other, and in the first half of the year, they found out that Feng Jin was going to take the exam this year.

Seventh Lady didn't dare to arouse Fifth Lady's mind at all.

Even if she knew that Wu Niangzi had other things on her mind when she came to Xipianyuan, she still had to pretend not to know.

Wu Niangzi will be 13 years old during Chinese New Year.

A few years ago, when the national strength of the Great Qin was weak, if a 13-year-old girl had not married and had children, the government would arrange a forced match.

That is to say, the population has become richer these years, and the marriage law has gradually been relaxed.

With the precocity of the ancients, most 13-year-old girls already have the idea of ​​yearning for spring.

If Wu Niangzi hadn't heard about Feng Jin's news, most of the traces of admiration would gradually fade with time.

But if she could receive the recent situation of the Feng family from her side from time to time, things might get worse.

With the family status of the Feng family, even if Feng Jin won the number one prize, he might not be qualified to ask for the daughter of the Yang family.

The sooner this dream is broken, the better.

After all, Fifth Lady was tender-faced, and after coming here a few times, seeing that Seventh Lady was unaware, she gradually put away her distraught attitude.

However, on the day when the list was released, I was still fidgeting, pacing back and forth, and couldn't even listen to the annotations of Tang poems that my husband said.

He just graduated from home school, so he couldn't wait to ask Qin Niangzi.

"Do you know that the results of the township examination are released today?"

Seventh Lady sighed secretly.

But it's not without slight nervousness, and it's not clear whether it was infected by Wu Niangzi, or out of concern for Feng Jin.

"I know." She looked calm, "I don't know if the senior brothers of the Li family and the Zhang family can win!"

With the relationship between several families, it is human nature for Seventh Lady to care about her elder brother.

Wu Niangzi's eyes lit up, "That's right! I think it's better to send someone to the front yard to find a teacher and copy back the list of this subject!"

Liu Niangzi's eyes rolled frequently, but she didn't speak.

Qin Niangzi was helpless, "I still have to tell my mother first, and then we can talk... Our maids in the inner courtyard are not allowed to walk around in the outer courtyard at will."

"Why are you so rigid!" Wu Niangzi disapproved, patted Qi Niangzi on the shoulder, and chattered with Gu Yu who came to greet her.

Although Gu Yu showed embarrassment and hesitation, he still complied.

Wu Niangzi didn't even want to enter Baifang Garden, so she had lunch with the eldest wife in the main courtyard.

He also felt that the eldest lady was always picking on her gifts, so after eating half a bowl of rice, she got angry and refused to eat, and went to the West Side Courtyard, where she rubbed hands with Seventh Lady again.

After lunch, I started walking around the house, anxious and apprehensive, palpable in words.

Qin Niangzi saw it in her eyes, but she was deeply puzzled.

Wu Niangzi is definitely not a nympho who has never seen a man in several lifetimes.

Xu Fengjia, Quan Zhongbai, Gui Hanchun... These young men, although they are not as beautiful as Feng Jin, are all good at winning, and they will never let Feng Jin alone win the championship.

But why does Fifth Lady miss Feng Jin like this?
Speaking of which, it's just the side I met a few years ago...

Seventh Lady hated herself for not being able to ask.

This kind of thing, even if everyone knows it well, it's not easy to put it on the table.

She used to have the habit of taking a nap, but now she had no choice but to hold back and sit at the table to wait with Wu Niangzi.I couldn't help but yawned for a moment.

Fifth Lady was also a little bit embarrassed, "You sleep and you sleep, I'll go to the study to write."

Qin Niangzi didn't sleep anymore, "I'll write with you, calm down."

The two sisters just came out of the east room, and saw a touch of green skirt through the half-padded cotton curtain at the door.

Wu Niangzi's spirit immediately lifted: Gu Yu was wearing a light green skirt today.

He lifted the curtain and went out, stood at the door and waited for Gu Yu to come in.

Seventh Lady had no choice but to follow Fifth Lady out of the house.

The winter in Suzhou is gloomy and cold, and as soon as I leave the house, there is a gust of cold wind, and Qin Niangzi can't help shrinking her neck.

"There's something wrong with Gu Yu's face." Fifth Lady was somewhat surprised.

Seventh Lady also saw the panic expression on Gu Yu's face.

It didn't seem like they came to report good news or bad news, but they seemed to be taken aback somewhere.

"Fifth lady, seventh lady!" She hurried up the steps to salute the two girls.

"Did you copy it?!" Fifth Lady's voice was shrill.

Gu Yu pursed her lips and shook her head.

"Just arrived at the outer courtyard, and I heard that Master Tongguang from Huiqing Temple is here!" She looked nervous, "Although the master is busy with work, I took the time to meet him... I heard that I patted the table on the spot and asked someone to come The Hanlin Mansion asked the second wife to come and talk immediately. They also sent people into the inner courtyard to find the wife out—the wife is taking a nap, and when I came in, I just dressed up and got in the car to go out... The look on my face is very ugly!"

The two girls exchanged glances.

What made the Grand Master so angry... and immediately asked the second wife to talk...

The dark and hazy sky seemed to be a little lower again.

Fifth Lady forced herself to cheer up and told Gu Yu, "Why don't you go and find out the news?"

Qin Niangzi also waved to Bai Lu, and whispered a few words.

The two maids went out of the West Side Courtyard together, trying to find out the news of the Outer Courtyard.

There is already a deep color between the eyebrows of Wu Niangzi.

After thinking for a while, he ordered Shang Yuan who had just left the tea room, "Go to Brother Jiu and tell Li Chun about the matter! See if Brother Jiu has fallen asleep, and if he hasn't fallen asleep, call him over."

No matter what Master Tong Guang said, just looking at how the Elder Master immediately urged the second wife to leave the house, and also told the eldest wife to go out immediately, one knew that the matter here would never be trivial.

Maybe it was a family storm.

Brother Nine, as the heir, must of course follow up on the news at this time.

Seventh Lady felt that Fifth Lady was actually very much like the eldest wife.

No matter how willful and reckless he is in normal times, when it comes to critical moments, he can always hold back the situation.

Ninth Brother soon entered the West Side Hospital.

While walking, Lichun followed behind him and wrapped his cloak around him.

There are still unhealed pillow marks on the face.

"What's the matter?" He looked bewildered.

Wu Niangzi recounted the matter to Brother Jiu in a low voice.

While talking, he entered the main room and sat down at the plum blossom table.

Ninth brother also went to the pavilion with both eyebrows, and was very surprised to hear, "Our fourth aunt sometimes goes to Huiqing Temple to offer incense. In recent years, fourth aunt rarely goes out, and she has no contact with Huiqing Temple. ?”

Master Tong Guang came to the door, what was he talking about?
If it's about the fourth aunt, what does it have to do with the second wife?
Wu Niangzi couldn't tell why.

I had to sit at the table and wait for the news.

Not long after, Wu Niangzi bowed her body and went into Xilijian's clean room.

Lichun also returned to the East Side Courtyard early to sit in town, and Yu Lixia was the only one serving in the house.

Only then did Brother Nine wink at Seventh Lady, "Seventh Sister, what is going on here?"

Qin Niangzi looked at Brother Jiu and shook her head slightly.

"It's better that you don't know what's going on here."

Her voice was soft.

The tone of voice is meaningful.

Nine Brothers suddenly showed a look of surprise.

Immediately, he stared and pondered, his eyes were filled with twists and turns that Qin Niangzi couldn't understand.

After several years of experience, Brother Nine is no longer the child who was full of worries written on his face...

Not long after, Gu Yu entered the main room out of breath.

"The master is very angry, and there are only Master Tongguang, his wife, and the second wife in the outer courtyard." Gu Yu still had a look of fear on his face, "I only know that the wife is also very angry! Mama Liang and Mama Wang were called out. Yes, and brought a few strong mothers... Bai Lu is still waiting for news outside."

Fifth Lady immediately stood up and paced back and forth.

"What happened..." Her face was full of confusion and worry.

"I don't know...every house has sent people to inquire about the news." Gu Yu let out a sigh of relief, "I don't know anything..."

Not long after, Bai Lu came back to report, "The fourth aunt has also gone to the outer courtyard! She also looks at a loss... with a dazed look on her face."

Seventh Lady couldn't help saying hello to Fourth Aunt from the bottom of her heart.

This waited until half the afternoon before the eldest wife and fourth aunt returned.

"Si Yiniang went back to the garden directly." Gu Yu came back to report, "Madam has entered the main room...was throwing things...Mother Liang and Mother Wang dare not go in!"

Wu Niangzi got up and wanted to go out, "I'll ask!"

Ninth Brother and Seventh Lady hurriedly joined forces to stop Fifth Lady, "Don't touch this bad luck!"

As long as you are not blind, you may be able to tell that the eldest wife is angry.

Isn't Wu Niangzi rushing to pad and kick the nest?

Wu Niangzi was in a hurry, "What's the matter! Don't be your mother who got angry outside again! Fourth aunt, that bitch—"

"Fifth Sister!" Seventh Lady's face changed and she stopped drinking.

Wu Niangzi stopped talking, but she still had a stubborn expression on her face.

After all, it is her own daughter. At this time, she is the only one who stands on the side of the eldest wife unreservedly, worrying about whether the eldest wife has been angered in the outer courtyard...

Seventh Lady sighed secretly.

But the face was cold and stern, "Every lady, how can you speak evil words!"

A trace of stubbornness flashed across Wu Niangzi's face, and she was about to speak.

"Okay, okay." Brother Nine had no choice but to smooth things over, "It's noisy outside, and we're also noisy inside? It's more important to find out the news first!"

Only then did the two little girls die down.

It's almost time to ask for greetings, and someone from the main courtyard came to spread the word, saying that the eldest wife is not in good health, so there is no need to greet each other today.

However, Bai Lu and Li Chun also showed their own special skills, and inquired about the gossip from Mama Liang and Mama Wang.

"It is said that Master Tongguang came to the door and told the elder that the second wife heard from somewhere that Huiqing Temple enshrines little ghosts, which can overcome Nightmare Town..." Bai Lu told the story to the third sibling. .

"I even took out the IOU on the spot to see that it matched the second wife's handprint exactly."

"Master Tongguang saw the horoscope and found it familiar. After pushing it according to the year and month, he thought it was the birthday of our family's Seventh Lady, Eighth Lady and Ninth Brother. He is also familiar with the abbot of Hanshan Temple. He only found out after asking. It's Brother Nine's birth date."

The abbot of Hanshan Temple, Hongfa, is Brother Jiu's name master, and of course he has Brother Jiu's birth date in his hand.

"I don't dare to be negligent. I'm afraid that the second wife will not take effect after waiting for a long time. Instead, she will have other thoughts and want to ruin Brother Ninth's life, so I have to be brave enough to come to the door to explain to the old man. She said that she is going to retreat to enlightenment, but just let it go. Without this matter, the Zen mind has not been pure enough."

Qin Niangzi couldn't help secretly praising Master Tongguang's wit.

"The master was so angry that he almost fainted when he heard that, and called the second wife and the wife to confront... The second wife couldn't say a word, she could only cry... The wife found out, she was so angry that she wanted to go up and beat the second wife to death." Bai Lu Showing fear.

After this turmoil, there will definitely be a break between the first room and the second room.

"It's better for the master to stay safe. He asked Mama Wang and Mama Liang to bring a few strong women and locked the second wife in an empty room in the garden of Hanlin Mansion. She left the medicine mother in the small warehouse to take care of the second wife." And Ba Niangzi, and asked someone to go to Shantang Academy to pick up the three young masters..."

"My wife passed away a few times with anger, and she lost her temper once she got back into the room. Now she's complaining that her heart hurts, and she can't even get out of bed." Bai Lu added quietly, "Mama Liang is very afraid that my wife will get sick from anger. ..."

"That's not bad!"

Wu Niangzi stood up abruptly, screaming in shock.

"Have you invited a good doctor?" Brother Nine also asked anxiously.

Seventh Lady let out a deep breath.

Only then did he step forward to make a gesture of concern, "Yeah, this is no joke!"

While talking, the three siblings went out of the west courtyard to visit the eldest wife in the main room.

(End of this chapter)